Cathedral Lenten Appeal
Dear Friends, thank you so much for the wonderful response to our Lenten Appeal to repair the windows in the Cathedral. Last week the second collection raised an incredible…£1,675.79
…which, as you know will be doubled by a very generous benefactor. The cost of the repairs will be £14,000. So we still have a long way to go – but this is a great start. Thank you so much!
Remember if you are a UK taxpayer, you should be eligible to Gift Aid any amounts that you give to this appeal. A supply of Gift Aid envelopes are available at the back of the church.
Friday Eucharistic Adoration, Confession and Stations of the Cross
Every Friday during Lent, Eucharistic Adoration will be held in the Cathedral from 10:30am-12:30pm, followed by the 12:45pm daily Mass and afterwards we will pray the Stations of the Cross. The sacrament of Confession is also available after the 12:45 pm Mass.
SCIAF Lenten Wee Box Appeal for Hungry in Zambia
SCIAF’s Wee Box appeal this Lent is for communities in Zambia where families are suffering from devastating hunger. Your donations help provide families training and tools to grow food. Only a few Wee Boxes are left at the back of church. Take yours today, or donate at https://www.sciaf.org.uk/
Young Adults Group Meets on Tuesday at 7pm
We continue our Young Adults talks on ‘Christ’s Prayerbook’ about the Psalms this week with Deacon Colm Martin who will speak about Psalm 38. All young adults aged 18-35 are welcome to join us in 63 York Place. We start at 7pm with teas and coffees, the talk will begin at 7.30pm and will be followed by Night Prayer and Confessions in the Cathedral, before a time to discuss in the pub.
Youth Group on Sunday night!
The Youth Group meets this evening from 6pm to 7.30pm in the Parish Rooms at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. All young people from P3 are welcome! Tonight we will be talking about Lenten practices of fasting and almsgiving. We will have games, and activities to learn more about the faith, and we will have the tuck shop – so don’t forget spending money! The registration fee is just £1 on the first night for new registrations. Please pick up a registration form that can be found in the Cathedral or St Andrew’s or contact Fr Robert for more information.
Over Sixties Coffee Afternoon, Guided Tour at Doocot Studios
The Over Sixties Club Coffee Afternoon will be on Tuesday 7 March at Coffee Saints, 2.30pm - 4pm. Guided tour for ‘Knitwear Chanel to Westwood’ exhibition at Dovecot Studios on Thursday 9th March. Tour starts at 1pm. Spaces are limited. Please pre-book a place on 07716963215. Please note this tour will cost £9.50 per person, payable on arrival. If you have booked a place and can no longer make it, please let Trish know by Tuesday 7th. To learn more, visit https://dovecotstudios.com/
Marriage Preparation Courses
Marriage Preparation courses will take place 10am-5pm on the following Saturdays: 20th May 2023, 2nd September 2023, 18th November 2023, 2nd March 2024 and 25th May 2024. The course includes talks by married couples from the parish. Email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register.
Congratulations to our new Catechumens and Candidates!
We extend warm congratulations to our catechumens and candidates who attended the Rite of Election at the Cathedral last Sunday, 26 February. These men and women have been participating in our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program and Archbishop Cushley has accepted them as being ready to receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist. During the season of Lent, they enter into a time of personal preparation that concludes at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, 8th April. Congratulations to Steven, Ihuoma, Felix, Cizel, Ashley, Nikki, Marcelina, Craig, Phil, Jane, Simon, Andrew, David and John. Photos from the day are at https://www.facebook.com/edinburghcathedral/
Please pray for each of them as they prepare to be received into full communion in the Catholic Church!
St. Pauls Bookshop: Books and Religious Articles for Lenten Journey
What’s on your reading list for Lent? Stop in at St Pauls Bookshop and find a great assortment of Lenten and other reading for your spiritual enrichment. You can find copies of Stations of the Cross, books on prayer, the sacraments, children’s books and Bibles, church documents, books on the saints and Our Lady, and more! As always, excellent year-round spiritual reading is available with the Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Do you have a crucifix, religious statue or rosaries in your home? In this holy season of Lent, create a prayerful home with these and other religious items, and make a beautiful a place set aside especially for your daily prayer to the Lord.
Fire Safety at Cathedral
As part of our ongoing efforts to upgrade Health and Safety Compliance here at the Cathedral we have recently completed a Fire Inspection. One of the things that was highlighted by the Fire Brigade is our duty to ensure that when people attend Mass here there are sufficient numbers of people who know what to do if the alarm goes off and direct others if needed. In other words, we need to volunteers who regularly attend Mass here to agree to be trained as Fire Wardens. Please consider helping us meet this requirement by participating in one of the training sessions: Tuesday, 21st March, 9.30am until 12, or Wednesday, 22nd March, 7pm-9pm, both in the downstairs meeting room of 63 York Place. These will cover evacuation principles, active fire safety and human behaviour in emergency situation, plus more. To register, please contact Alice at complexmanager@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Holy Week at the Cathedral
Sunday 2nd April: Palm Sunday
6.00pm (Vigil Mass on Saturday)
9.00am, 12 Noon and 7.30pm
Polish: 10.30am and 6.00pm
Tuesday 4th April: Chrism Mass
9.00am (Polish)
10.00am
12.45pm
6.00pm (Polish): Cancelled
7.00pm: Chrism Mass
Thursday 6th April: Maundy Thursday
6.00pm (Polish): Cancelled
7.00pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Friday 7th April: Good Friday
3.00pm: Passion Liturgy
5.00pm: Passion Liturgy (Polish)
7.00pm: Stations of the Cross
Saturday 8th April: Holy Saturday
Polish Food Blessing:
12Noon, 3.00pm and 5.00pm
8.00pm: Easter Vigil Mass
Sunday 9th April: Easter Sunday
9.00am, 12 Noon and 7.30pm
Polish: 10.30am and 6:00pm
Confessions during Holy Week:
After 12.45pm Mass on Monday-Wednesday
St. Andrew’s Talk on Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
The next St Andrew's Talk will be tomorrow, Monday, 6 March, 6:45pm with Penelope Blackwell from the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF, www.sciaf.org.uk) who will talk about the Lenten appeal and the charity’s work. After the talk there will be soup and sandwiches and a chance to discuss.
Wednesdays in Lent: Adoration, Confession and Stations of the Cross
Draw closer to Christ in Lent! At St. Andrew’s on Wednesdays during Lent we have Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions 5:00pm-6:00pm, followed by 6:00pm Mass. We will pray the Stations of the Cross 6:30pm-7:00pm. You are also very welcome to visit the outdoor Stations of the Cross at Ravelston anytime to walk and pray the around the peaceful and lovely garden path.
Ravelston Eucharistic Ministers & Readers, Save the Date!
Two training sessions are scheduled for Saturday 13th May at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. The first is for all readers and will be 2.00pm-3.00pm, and the second is for all Eucharistic Ministers, 3.00pm-4.00pm.
Fundraising Run (or walk!) Sundays in Lent
All are welcome to join Fergus Christie for a charity run/walk at 11:30am today from St. Andrew’s, Ravelston to St. Mary’s Cathedral and return (approx. 5 km) and continuing every Sunday during Lent. Funds raised will be donated to the Cathedral stained-glass window repair appeal & SCIAF. If you don’t want to take part, please consider donating/sponsoring. Any queries please contact Fergus Christie at Fergus.Christie@bckm.co.uk
Holy Week at Ravelston
Palm Sunday, 2nd April
10:30am
Tuesday, 4th April
6pm Mass cancelled
Holy Thursday, 6th April
6pm Mass cancelled
Good Friday, 7th April
3pm Passion Liturgy
Easter Sunday, 9th April
10:30am
Archdiocesan Stations of the Cross
This takes place on Monday 3 April at 7:45pm on Zoom. It is a chance pray for all pro-life intentions and includes a reflection from Archbishop Leo Cushley. Register at https://bit.ly/stations2023
Mass for Vocations at St. Albert’s Chaplaincy Tomorrow
The next Archdiocesan Mass for Vocations takes place at 5:15pm tomorrow, Monday 6 March, at the St Albert’s Chaplaincy, 24 George Square, EH8 9LD, near the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library. Refreshments served after Mass. Join us! For directions, visit https://scotland.op.org/
Wednesday Lenten Online Talks: Jesus in the Servant Songs of Isaiah
When we hear the Gospels proclaimed, the writers of the New Testament are often quoting the Prophet Isaiah. Why? Learn more about this incredibly important book of the Bible and discover Jesus Christ in the Servant Songs of Isaiah with a series of online talks this Lent. Fr Jamie McMorrin of St Margaret’s, Davidson’s Mains, and Sr Anna Marie McGuan, RSM host the talks at 7:30pm,Wednesday 8, 15, 22 March. Register at bit.ly/lenttalks2023. Videos posted after the talks at https://bit.ly/ArchYouTube Booklets with Isaiah readings are in the Octagon at the Cathedral or at the back of St. Andrew’s.
‘Art in Light of the End: John Henry Newman's Aesthetics’
Dr Rebekah Lamb of St Andrew’s University will give the Inaugural Holy Ground Lecture, ‘Art in Light of the End: John Henry Newman's Aesthetics.’ The lecture will be on Monday, on 13 March at 5pm in LG.09, 40 George Square followed by Vespers. Register at https://bit.ly/holygroundlecture
Catenians Meeting, Wednesday, 15th March, at 7.00 p.m.
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to a meeting on Wednesday, 15th March, at 7.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. The Association is an international body of Catholic laymen who meet once a month and offer friendship and support to Catholic men at all stages of their lives. For more information contact John Russell at 01555 728032 or membership@thecatenians.com
Mass and Relics of Padre Pio in Broxburn
Relics of Padre Pio are touring Scotland (including his gloves and bloodstained bandages). They will be in the Archdiocese on Friday 24 March at 7:00pm at Ss John Cantius & Nicholas, West Main Street, Broxburn. There will be Holy Mass and a chance to receive an individual blessing with the relics.